Occurrence of Dirofilaria immitis (Nematoda, Onchocercidae) in Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from the Suburbs of Kharkiv (Ukraine)

Dirofilariasis of animals and humans is a disease caused by nematodes the genus Dirofilaria (Railliet et Henry, 1911). The role wild predators, particularly red fox (Vulpes vulpes) (Linnaeus, 1758) in distribution pathogen world remains unclear. We studied occurrence immitis (Leidy, 1856) population fox. Twenty-seven foxes were examined during winter hunting season 2019–2020 Dergachi district, Kharkiv region Ukraine. All 27 older than 1.5–2 years old, 5 them (18.5 %) 4–5 old. was found 22.2 % foxes. intensity infection ranged from 2 to 4 specimens per host. In four (66.7 infected hosts), same number male female detected, while two (33.3 had each 1 females D. immitis. length males (7 specimens) 13.96 ± 0.29 cm (9 19.58 0.55 cm. Prevalence with presumably depends on their habitat presence mosquitos (vectors nematode) these areas.